It's been seven months now since cardiolo-gist Raj Mattu was suspended from his job at Walsgrave Hospital.

It?s alleged that he bullied a junior colleague. His supporters argue that he?s being punished for blowing the whistle on serious shortcomings at the hospital -shortcomings that were later spotted by government inspectors.

Whichever side is right, the fact remains that for seven months, heart patients in Coventry and Warwickshire have had to do without Dr Mattu?s expertise.

What an appalling waste.

If this were a one-off case, it would be bad enough. But Raj Mattu follows Briony Ackroyd, the breast cancer surgeon who is still suspended after more than two years. Ms Ackroyd is taking her case to the High Court. Dr Mattu?s supporters are reduced to holding public meetings to rally support for their campaign to have him reinstated. It?s tragic that high profile cases like these are being allowed to drag on.

They are a massive financial cost to the Walsgrave

Hospital trust, of course. Both surgeons are suspended on full pay, and there?s the legal costs and the expense of locum cover on top.

But more importantly, they under-mine the reputation of Walsgrave Hospital and all the good work that the doctors, nurses and other staff do there week in, week out.

David Roberts, the trust?s new chief executive, owes it to those people, and the rest of us patients and taxpayers, to get this mess sorted out, and quick.